Mr. Christopher Corona

Introduction

Dear Parents of NEISD,

I am excited to welcome you to the 2024-2025 school year! This is my 4th year here at Madison, and I will be the teacher for Algebraic Reasoning (AR) in one of the following periods - 3rd P., 4th P., 6th P., or 7th P. I am a recent graduate of the University of Rochester located in Rochester, NY. I hold a B.A. in Music as well as a B.S. in Physics; currently I am pursuing my M.A. in Music Leadership at the Eastman School of Music. Before joining James Madison High School (JMHS), I previously conducted research in extreme states of matter and was a freelance bassoonist in the NYC area as well as upstate New York. When I am not teaching, I am busy being the assistant tennis coach here at JMHS, freelancing among local ensembles as a bassoonist, and do local outreach at the University of Texas Health San Antonio during the summers!

I am looking forward to a productive partnership with you to ensure your child can achieve their highest potential in my class. I recognize that in order to be productive and successful at school, students need support from both the home and their educational institution. I believe a strong partnership with you will make a great difference in your child’s education. As partners, we share the responsibility for our children’s success, and I want you to know that I will personally do my very best to carry out my responsibilities.

Grading

I am not responsible for your child's grades, I am merely responisble for recording your child's grades. Their effort in this class will be reflected in Skyward. As such, your child's grade in their AR class will be determined by the following coursework:

Assignments - 50%

Tests - 30%

Quizzes/Projects - 20%

From there, the most important grade is the one they receive at the end of every semester. Thus, their overall grade in my class per semester is then based on the following calculations:

Coursework - 75%

Final Exam - 25%

Big 3 Rules

While I have a myriad of rules and procedures, I wanted to share with you my top 3 high priority class guidelines which I believe shape a classroom and will define your child’s educational experience here:

• Seek first to understand, then to be understood!
• Always ask questions!
• Practice does not make perfect, it makes improvement…so practice!

Goals

During this school year I aspire to incorporate more technology in the classroom. We are living in a society where technology is becoming more a necessity than a luxury. Like so, if we wish to thrive in this society we must adapt to the changes we see in our lives; this mindset will be applied to my classroom! 

Absences

Anytime your student is absent, THEY are responsible for their own work.  While I try to stay on top of all my assessments and assignments and grading and lectures, I am still 1 person. I cannot aid your student if your student does not vocalize any issues they may have. Thus, they are responsible for scheduling a missed test/quiz due to an absence and I will accommodate them accordingly.  The NEISD policy for make-up work will be adhered to in this class.  All make-up work needs to be turned in at the beginning of the class.

Make-Up Work/ Late Work

In case of an excused absence, make-up work will be accepted without penalty by the next class day after a student has returned to school. We understand that life happens! Thus, students will have the same number of days to make-up the missed work as they were absent. Late work will be accepted up until the day of the test for a particular unit for a reduced grade.  Any late work turned in after a test for that unit will receive a zero per academic policy.

Like I tell all my students: "You work with me, I work with you". We are a team here at Madison HS, and it is my responsibility to ensure your student not only learns during my instructional period but also passes my class!

If you wish to see any of my other credentials, please consult my other website at the link below:

https://coronacurriculum.weebly.com/